The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S.) or America (), is a federal republic composed of 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles (9.8 million km2) and with over 324 million people, the United States is the world's third- or fourth-largest country by total area and the third-most populous. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the largest city by population is New York City. Forty-eight states and the capital's federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east and across the Bering Strait from Russia to the west. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U.S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, stretching across nine official time zones. The extremely diverse geography, climate, and wildlife of the United States make it one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries.Paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century. The United States emerged from the thirteen British colonies established along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the colonies following the French and Indian War led to the American Revolution, which began in 1775, and the subsequent Declaration of Independence in 1776. The war ended in 1783 with the United States becoming the first country to gain independence from a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, with the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, being ratified in 1791 to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. The United States embarked on a vigorous expansion across North America throughout the 19th century, acquiring new territories, displacing Native American tribes, and gradually admitting new states until it spanned the continent by 1848. During the second half of the 19th century, the Civil War led to the outlawing of slavery. By the end of the century, the United States had extended into the Pacific Ocean, and its economy, driven in large part by the Industrial Revolution, began to soar. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the country's status as a global military power. The United States emerged from World War II as a global superpower, the first country to develop nuclear weapons, the only country to use them in warfare, and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union competed in the Space Race, culminating with the 1969 moon landing. The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the world's sole superpower.
The United States is a founding member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States (OAS), and other international organizations. The United States is a highly developed country, with the world's largest economy by nominal GDP and second-largest economy by PPP, accounting for approximately a quarter of global GDP. The U.S. economy is the fastest-growing in the Americas and is largely post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge-based activities, although the manufacturing sector remains the second-largest in the world. Though its population is only 4.3% of the world total, Americans hold 33.2% of the total wealth in the world, the largest share of global wealth concentrated in a single country. The United States ranks among the highest nations in several measures of socioeconomic performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP, and productivity per person. The U.S. is the foremost military power in the world, making up a third of global military spending. It is also a global leader in science and technology.

United States: photos and pictures

United States: numbers and facts 2018

Map of hotels and accommodation

Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65), in which a northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacy of 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s, an economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor force lost its jobs. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world''s most powerful nation state. Since the end of World War II, the economy has achieved relatively steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology..

United States is located in North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico.

When you travel to United States remember that the climate is mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

A Taste of USA - Travel United States for Vacation, Tours and Holiday

From the frozen north of Alaska to the desert of Death Valley, the U.S.A. is big, bold and beautiful. A melting pot of cultures from around the globe, its own culture is well known to everyone throughout the world due to the influence of media and big business. Or is it? This is a country which can't be readily defined. The easy going people on the West Coast differ greatly from those in the bible belt, and New York and Los Angeles are different again. Perhaps the best way to explore America is to take an extended road trip, and build an impression whilst driving along those vast highways. For those without months to spare though, visiting key spots is the best way to go. Whichever you choose, there is always more to see and do next time!

When to Visit the U.S.A.

A trip to the US can be taken at any time of year, depending on the sort of vacation in mind. Cities such as New York never sleep (forgive the pun), no matter time of day or time of year. It might be best avoided during the bitterly cold winters however from November through to February. Down towards the south, Los Angeles is warm all the year through, and in Las Vegas, who cares what the weather is doing outside the casino! The USA has many climates, and so it is best to find out the localised climate for any area you wish to travel through in order to get the best time of year.

Things to See and Do in the U.S.A.

New York – There are a number of notable tourist attractions to be seen in the Big Apple such as the Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building, Wall Street, Times Square, and Central Park. Don't forget the museums either, with the Metropolitan Museum of Art being outstanding. You won't go hungry in New York either, with hundreds of restaurants offering cuisine from around the world. Don't forget to try a hot dog from a street vendor!The Grand Canyon – Located in northern Arizona, this is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. A colourful landscape and spectacular views ensure some amazing memories and photos.Las Vegas – A trip to Las Vegas isn't just about gambling. The casinos also offer great food and shows, with many well known performers booked for a season on the Strip. It is also possible to book trips out to go go-karting, sky-diving or even to shoot guns out in the desert. If you have money to spend, this is the place to come.Other well known places to visit in the United States include Denali Park in Alaska, Chicago, Los Angeles, Yosemite Park, Yellowstone Park, the Mississippi Delta and Washington to see the White House. The list is almost endless.

Travel information and tips: United States

Be careful of natural hazards like: tsunamis; volcanoes; earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to development.

Most popular languages in United States are:
English 86.2% (official),
Spanish 7.5%,
French 0.7%,
German 0.7%,
Chinese 0.6%,
Italian 0.6%,
Tagalog 0.4%,
Polish 0.3%,
Korean 0.3%,
Portuguese 0.2%,
Japanese 0.2%,
Vietnamese 0.2%.
The capital of United States is Washington.
Other largest cities and towns in United States that are actually worth visiting:
New York (8,008,278),
Los Angeles (3,694,820),
Chicago (2,896,016),
Houston (1,953,631),
Philadelphia (1,517,550).
Population of United States is about 278,357,000 people.
If you plan a short trip or vacation in United States in the future, make sure you add Canada, The Bahamas, Venezuela, Belize, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador to your list.

Electrical Plug/Outlet and Voltage Informations in United States

Speed Limit

Road speed limits are used in most countries to set the maximum speed at which vehicles may legally drive on particular stretches of a road. Take a look at the speed restrictions:
Within towns: 40–88 (25–55 mph)
Automobiles and motorcycles (single carriageway):: 88-113 (55-70 mph)
Expressways/motorways (dual carriageway): 105–129 (65–80 mph). 137 (85 mph) is allowed on one highway in Texas
Trucks or automobiles with a trailer: Restrictions only in few states, typically 10 mph lower.
Outside built-up areas / highways: 89–113 (55–70 mph)
Enforcement tolerance: States have jurisdiction over speed limits. Enforcement varies, from warning (e.g., Nebraska) to fines to jail (e.g., Wyoming above 100 mph). Typically, ~5 mph over in speed limit zones 50 and under and ~10 mph in zones 55 and over (highway speeds.); can be as little as 1 mph.

Blog entries about United States

Best places to visit in April. Where to go for vacation.
Europe April is definitely reserved for those who want to travel somewhere in Spain and Portugal. Barcelona is a city that most tourists visit to tour and get familiar up close with the famous architectural works of Antoni Gaudí. Certainly the most f...

Practical travel advice to help you choose the best time for a vacation. Booking, reviews and advice on hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, travel packages, and a lot more!

We use cookies

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.More info:Cookies »